“It Hurts to Grow,” New Era, May 1997, 51
It Hurts to Grow
It hurts to grow,
to unfold the ironed creases,
to uncover delicate petals,
to be touched by the warmth,
the glow and fire
of the sun.
Still covered, their colors fade,
wither,
die.
No one may then know
the beauty
that lay therein.